Bye Bye Babs – the continuing condominimization of Missoula’s rental units

January 31, 2008 in Gentrification, Missoula, Missoula City Council, Zoning and Planning
Tags: Babs, displaced student renters, Gentrification, Kaimin, Missoula, planning

by Jamee Greer

I have to say that I’m not surprised by two things on the front front page of today’s Montana Kaimin –

1.) That the Babs Building on 4th Street SW is possibly turning into condominiums, and

2.) That the Kaimin broke this story.

The staff at The University of Montana’s student paper have really earned their fee increase this year, covering (and breaking stories) on everything from queer rights at UM to student renters displaced by gentrification.

I’m not going to offer much commentary on the possible conversion, other than to say it’s too bad to see yet another affordable housing option disappear in a city with a ridiculous vacancy rate – at least for rentals. First there was the Wilma (with its 25 units), then the Montaigne-slash-“Historic Penwell” (with it’s, I believe, 47 units), and now (maybe) the Babs – coming in at an additional 14 units.

Update: I was mistaken in saying the Montana Kaimin has “earned their fee increase this year” – while I knew that students voted against the fee increase (the only increase to fail the student ballot in ’07) – I was under the impression that the Board of Regents went against student wishes and funded the paper anyway.

Discovering Transit!

December 3, 2007 in Missoula, Ravalli County, Transportation
Tags: ASUM, ASUM Transportation, Five Valleys Regional Transit Study, Granite, Jordan Hess, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, planning, Rivalli, Sanders, transit

by Jamee Greer

There are sure some great local blogs starting on really important issues lately! I wanted to mention a blog belonging to a good pal of mine, and fellow ASUM Transportation board member, Jordan Hess.

Discovering Transit in Montana is a great site to check out, even if you’re not a planning nerd!

While we’re on the topic, just a reminder that Wednesday from 4:00 until 6:00 at the Grant Creek Inn, the public can comment on the Five Valleys Regional Transit Study – found here.